SUAEDA PALAESTINA

Family:- AMARANTHACEAE

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Suaeda (L) From the Arabic, suwed-mullah, for Suaeda baccata.

Palaestina (L) From Palestine, Palestinian.

General description:- Small hairless shrub.

Stem:-

a) up to 120 cm.

Leaves:-

a) 5-18 x (0·8-)1-2·5 mm.

b) semi-terete, (± flattened on the upper side) curved like a bow (arcuate),

usually ending in an abrupt, short point (apiculate).

c) stalked (sessile).

d) covered with a waxy bloom (glaucous).

Flowers:-

a) solitary, shorter than the bracts.

1) Stigmas:

a) 0·2-0·4 mm.

b) united at the base, flat, lobed, forming a complex peltate (round and attached

at or near the centre) or head-shape (capitate) structure.

2) Fruiting perianth:

a) not inflated.

b) usually green.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds:

a) smooth.

b) usually vertical.

Key features:-

1) Leaves an bracts arcuate.

2) Flowers solitary.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats and open grassy areas close to the coast. 0-50 m.

Distribution:- Within the Aegean area known only from a single collection from the

small island of Koufonisi off SE Crete. A mainly native species occurring from

Palestine along the S Mediterranean shores to Tunisia.

Flowering time:- May.

Photos by:- Ralf Jahn